Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 10)

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Creating ethnicity through tangible material culture of architectural vocabulary as identity: 
Built environments and the techniques used to make them are also a part of culture, as sister Violita AC says, "Culture represents man's behaviour and the way he carries on his daily activities. Culture includes not only the techniques and method of art, music and literature, but also those used to make pottery, sew clothes or build houses." As an interesting piece of architecture, these Nagarathar Viduthis are well identified as Chettiar establishments as they continue the Vernacular vocabulary of Chettinad by bringing skilled sthapathis from Thirupanavasal, Eluvankottai and Illupakkudi. Architecture and architectural Character were used to create an ethnic identity in the new place of residence. Behind the facade, the spatial organisation and distribution of functions facilitated the continuum of the intangible customs and traditions, which the transient community kept alive through celebration of various festivals and rituals.

Intangible customs, beliefs, rituals as community identity:
During the Tamil month of Masi (March) the festival of Masi Magam auspicious for Lord Muruga is celebrated as a continuity of the belief of the Community that Lord Muruga goes to the wedding of Sundarmoorthy Nayanar in the presence of Lord Thaduthatkonda Perumal at the temple called as Magiladi Sevai (wedding under magilam tree asper legends) and stays in Thiruvotriyur Viduthi for four days. The coral merchant street becomes vibrant during the Ther thiruvizha (Ceremonial procession of temple chariot) of the Nagarathar community. The Velli ratham (Silver Chariot)

belonging to the Pazhaya Thandayutha pani trust and the mara ratham (wooden chariot) belonging to the Pudhiya Thandayuthapani trust housed at the theradio, in Coral Merchant Street is brought out with all ritualistic respect. The Small thers (Chariot) belonging to each trust houses deity of Lord Ganesha, the Mudhal Kadavul (first god) leads the ceremonial porocessaon as per their custom.
(Continues...)

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